University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 15 text:

TheIndex. 9 rapid, liaviag gone thi ' ough, or as we might say, over, the different kinds of farms, and arrived at cranberries, which, by the way, are studied here entirely by theory. But few, as yet, have shown themselves dangerous rivals of Booth in the rendering of Shakespeare ; but, in the words of one of our number, we arn ' t through, yet. In Military Science we are quite expert, having had both theory and practice combined, which, as we all know, ' makes perfect. In conclusion we can say, that, having come off victorious in all games of science during the past year with ' 75, (who, like the old salt , commenced with nothing, and have held their own ever since) we feel competent for the task of sustaining ourselves, during the rest of our course, as honorably as we have heretofore, and then with sheep-skins under our arms, take up the song, — ' Farewell to College duties, Farewell to Amherst We ' re going home. D.

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ffM Two years of onr college life have passed away, and, as we are starting on the third, our annual contribution to The Index is called foi. As we look back through the past year upon that sunny autumn, when we felt for the first time that we were no longer the et cetera ; upon the cold winter, when one ' s fireside was the most comfortable place this side of home ; upon the bright summer, when we were wont to gather around the stately form of some pro- fessor, and tell, with boyish delight, of Angles, Kingk and Reformers, or What we knew about ar ra ' nc ; when we look upon all this that has passed, a feeling of sadness comes over us. Not that we have neglected duty, far from it, but that one place in this happy circle is vacant, never again in this hfe to be filled. And however long we may be spared to life ' s work, we shall always remember the happy countenance, the kind words and the Christian example of our classmate Clark. Feeling that what was our loss has resulted in his eternal gain, we are willing to leave it in the hands of Him who doeth all things weU. With the Faculty we are on the best of terms, having done noth- ing to merit their displeasure, not even having bolted without wait- ing the required time. And no one can fail to see how highly they estimate our abilities, if they but read the routine for the present term. For, to aid us in the digestion of our great intellectual feast, a Physical portion is given us as dessert, which, by the way, is one of the most substantial and hearty dishes of the feast. In Veterinary Science we are progressing finely, under the guidance of our new Professor in this depariment ; and any one not acquainted with us (or the language) would think German our native tongue. Our work in the Horticultural department has been very pleasant, thus far, as the path to the scene of action passes through the vineyard, and onions grow not there. In Agriculture our progress has been

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The class of ' 75 enters upon its Sophomore year with but little diminution of its original number. In our Freshmen year we were called upon to mourn the death of one beloved classmate, whom we trust is now beyond the pale of sin and sorrow. The transition from Freshmen to Sophomores has deprived us of some able men, some indeed, who, in the language of one that has gone from us, could manipulate the cue, and agitate the ivories with a precision unequalled ; others there have been, who, having taken aU chapel exercises, would follow the mazy and intricate paths of Agricultural Science oftentimes once in a week or more. But the loss of these men was to be expected. The great world called upon them to let their light shine in other fields of action, and they responded. Let it be the endeavor of every man in the class, through scholarship and ability, to compensate for the loss of those thus early called in. In regard to our studies, we flatter ourselves that we are as far advanced as previous classes were at this stage of their college life. One of our number has already received a prize scholarship, to ob- tain which, must have cost no small amount of unremitting applica- tion to study. Our respected instructor in Mathematics and in Military Art, has been superseded in the last named by one whose fitness for that branch of instruction none would be so rash as to question. As chemists, at this particular time, we are searching for the base, but don ' t always find it, as many a treacherous test tube could testify. Nevertheless we shall endeavor to press on toward the goal, which is, of course, with those of us who intend to farm it, to analyze our soils, and eventually cause all those unscrupulous persons, who at the present time vend their third rate fertihzing compounds, to migrate to that section where chemists are unknown. But enough of hopes and aspirations ; let us turn to that subject ever fraught with interest to the dignified Soi)h., the hapless Freshy ! What a paternal interest we have taken in them ! How